Fruit-picker.



B. M. HANSLEY & H. WILL.

FRUIT PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED PIE-13.17, 1910. 971,005,,

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

EDWIN lVL HANSLEY AND HUGO WILL, OF WILLIAMSBURG, MICHIGAN.

FRUIT-PICKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Sept. 20 1810.

Application filed February 17, 1910. Serial No. 544,443.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWIN M. HANSLEY and HUGO WILL, citizens of theUnited States of America, residing at WVilliams burg, in the county ofGrand Traverse and State of Michigan, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Fruit-Pickers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to devices for picking cherries, plums and othersmall fruits, and it has for its object to produce a device of thisclass of simple and durable construction which may be etficiently usedfor the purpose of gathering small fruits rapidly and conveniently andwithout injury to the fruit.

lVith these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as thenature of the in vention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theinvention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruit pickerconstructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a verticaltransverse sectional view of the same.

Corresponding parts in both figures of the drawing are designated bylike characters of reference.

A receptacle 1 is provided, the same consisting of a box of rectangularor other suitable shape, and the same being preferably constructed ofsheet metal and provided at its upper edge with a bead 2 reinforced by awire 3, which latter is exposed at the corners of the box, as shown.Upon the exposed corners of the reinforcing wire are fitted the ends ofwire loops 4, which latter are disposed longitudinally of the box, andthe terminal ends of said loops being provided with eyes 5 engaging thereinforcing wire at the corners of the box, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. Acutting implement is provided consisting of shear blades 6, 6 which arepivotally connected by a pin or bolt 7, each of said blades beingprovided with a finger loop 8 secured adjacent to its outer edge bymeans of a screw or bolt 9. The blades 6 are relatively short and wide,said blades being provided with beveled cutting edges, as shown.

Suitably attached to each of the blades (5 near the point thereof is anarm 10 made of resilient wire, the same being bent at a suitabledistance in advance of the point of the blade to which it is attached toform a coil 11 from which an arm 12 is extended rearwardly adjacent tothe outer edge of the blade, said arm 12 being suitably attached to thefinger loop. Each of the arms 12 terminates at its rear end in an eye 13which is formed thereupon to avoid a raw edge which might injure thehand of the operator. The arm 12 at each side of the cutting device isconnected with the loop 4t at the corresponding side of the box by anapron 14 made of flexible, preferably textile, material, which serves toguide the fruit severed by the cutting apparatus into the box orreceptacle below without injury to the fruit and without danger of itsbeing lost.

One of the cutting blades 6 is provided with an arcuate slot 15concentric with the pivot 7, and the other cutting blade is providedwith a lug or stud 16 engaging said slot and constituting a stop,whereby the closing as well as the opening movement of the blades willbe limited.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawinghereto annexed the operation and advantages of this invention will, bereadily understood. The operator holds the device by inserting his thumband finger into the loops provided for the purpose, the palm of the handcombining with the aprons 14: to form a guide, whereby the fruit that isbeing severed will be directed into the box or receptacle. The arms 10,12, which are connected by the coil 11. in advance of the point of eachblade, will serve to direct the stems of the fruits that are to bepicked between the edges of the blades without danger of the fruit beinginjured by the points of the blades.

\Vhilethe receptacle of this device may be of any desired dimensions, itis preferably made small enol'lgh to be handily carried, thus renderingthe device capable of being conveniently used for the purpose ofgathering fruit that would be inaccessible if a larger gathering devicewere used.

The device is simple in constructiom'etlective in operation and may beused without severely straining the hand of the operator.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is z- 1. Ina device of the character described, a receptacle, a cutting apparatuscomprising pivotally connected blades having loops connected therewith,arms connected with the loops, arms extending forwardly from the blades,coils connecting said arms together, and flexible aprons connecting thearms adjacent to the blades with the receptacle.

2. In a device of the character described, a rectangular receptaclehaving a beaded upper edge and a reinforcing wire interposed at thecorners of the receptacle, longitudinally disposed loops connected withthe reinforcing wire, a cutting device consisting of pivotallv connectedblades having finger loops connected therewith, arms connected with thefinger loops and disposed adjacent to the outer edges of the blades,arms connected with and extending for- *ardly from the blades, coilsconnecting the latter arms with the arms attached to the finger loops,and flexible aprons connecting the arms located adjacent to the outeredges of the blades with the loops connected with the receptacle.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

EDVIN M. HANSLEY. HUGO ILL. lVitnesses G120. PnLi-xon, RALPH D. lVHI'rE.

